Concentration of barite



Patented Jan. 17, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CONCENTRATION OF BARITE Francis X. Tartaron, Mulberry, Fla., assignor to Phosphate Recovery Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation ofDelaware i No Drawing.

I 10 Claims. The present invention relates to a novel process of concentrating barite from its ores.

According to this process, barite is concentrated by a selective separating action on the gangue constituents, contrary to ordinary practice.

When concentrating the mineral by flotation, for

" ing the mineral by tabling, it is the silicious I gangue which comes of at the, side of the'table,

the barite coming off the end. Such inverse procedures have been found possible by the use of certain substances hereinafter descrlbed. A pulp of' the barite ore to undergo treatment is agiw tated in the presence of these substances, "the gangue constituents being thereafter separated from the barite byflotation, by tabling, or in other manner known in the art.

I have made the discovery that silicious gangue may be floatedaway or otherwise separated from barite by the use of bone oil, in conjunction with an acid. As the latter, any appropriate acid may be used which, when mixed with water, forms a distinctly acid solution readily titratable with an aqueous solution of a base. Satisfactory results have thus been obtained by employing bone oil with such acids as sulphuric acid, hydrochloric acid, phosphoric acid, acetic acid, etc. The acid is apparently essential to the process of the invention, it being probable that the silicious gangue is so conditioned by the acid that it is enabled to properly react with the bone oil. as a collector. -In many cases, however, best results may be had by adding the acid to the pulp subsequent to its initial admixture wit bone oil. Because of the acid, the pulp i undoubtedly of an acid character.

In carrying out the process ofthe invention,

of course, other agents may be used along with the bone oil and the acid. For example, any wellknown frother may he used. Also, a mineral oil may be used as an additional collector.

The process of the invention in several aspects is an improvement over those prior processes effecting a concentration of barite by a selective separating action on that mineral by the use offatty acid or fatty acid soap. One

the.

Application January 15, 1938, Serial No. 185,161

advantage of the present process resides in the fact that it may be carried outwith the barite present in the pulp in the form of many coarse grains. Therefore, the ore as mined need not be ground, but merely crushed to a size most suitable for eflicient operation. The present process also provides the advantage that it may be carried out by flotation with aconslderable reduction inthe flotation period required, which in some cases is reduced to one third the period 10 necessary in the prior processes mentioned. It may also be said that the process of the invention is superior from the point of view of the slightly better recoveries often effected. In general, also, concentrates of commercial grade are 15 obtained in a single operation removing most of the silicious gangue. 0

In preparing the ore for treatment by the process of the invention, it is in general desirable that it be largely deslimed, its desliming greatly mini- 20 mizing the consumption of the agents used.

Examples will now be given describing certain tests which have been made in carrying the invention into effect, it being understood that 'the reagent proportions indicated in each example 2 are expressed in the usual manner as pounds per I ton (2000 lbs.) of dry material treated.

EXAMPLE 1 A crude high-grade barite ore known as "Jig Hutch Product, a deslimed product of the Page.

employed in this test. As received, this ore con.- tained a considerable quantity of coarse barite.

Without preliminary grinding, a sample of the ore was made up with water into a thick pulp of 10% solids. To this pulp were added, during agitation in an impeller-type mixer, first 9 lbs.

.per ton of crude bone oil obtained from the Eastman Kodak Company and then 1.47 lbs. per ton 40 of concentrated sulphuric acid, the mixer speed being from 300 to 400 R. P. M. This addition of reagents required about one minute, subsequent to which agitation in the mixer was continued for a period of about two minutes. The pulp was 5 froth. Upon removal of the non-floated mate'- 50.

Mining Company of Cartersville, Georgia, was

I rial (constituting the finished concentrate), the' floated material was twice retreated in the machine without further addition of reagents, each retreatmentrequiring less than one minute. The

v results of the test are given in the following table,

in which the two middlings refer to the nonfloated products obtained by the two retreatments stated:

Percent assay Percent Product Percent recovery weight B2804 B8501 'Fezoa S10:

Feed 100 89. 31 2. 32 6. 37 Final float. 21. 4 64. 07 7. 60 M. 02 15. 4 151. middling- 5. l 91. 68 2. 06 4. 53 5. 2 2nd middhng- 8. 4 95. 4O 1. 12 2. 08 9. Concentrate.-- 65. 1 96. 63 0. 76 l. 28 70. 4 Conc.+2 middS 73. 6 96. 18 O. 88 1. 47 84. 6

EXAMPLE 2 Another sample of the same barite ore was processed in exactly the same manner, but with the proportions of bone oil and sulphuric acid decreased to '7 lbs. per ton and 0.74 lb. per ton, respectively. Also, in this instance, the material first floated was only once retreated in the flotation machine. Here the results were as fol- For the purpose of this test, 0.5 lb. per ton of fuel oil was used with 6 lbs. per ton of crude Eastman Kodak Company bone oil and 0.74 lb. per ton of concentrated sulphuric acid, the sulphuric acid being added after the bone oil and the fuel oil after the sulphuric acid. Still another sample of the same barite was processed with these agents, the procedures being otherwise identical to those of Example 1. The following table shows the results of the test:

Percent assay Percent Product g g gig recovery BaS04 FezOa sioi B880 Feed 100 s9. 53 i 2. a1 '6. 4a Final float" 29. 1 ea. 98 7. 14 24. 72 14. 4 1st middling a. a 94. 12 1.38 3. 1s 3. 5 2nd middling 3. 9 95. 0s 1. 24 2. a7 4. 1 Concentrate 72. 7 9e. 10 1.08 1.75 78.0 Cone. +2 midds 79. 9 95.96 1. 10 1. s4 s5. 6

Comparative test Because of the nature of the agents employed in this test, it was found necessary to grind a fourth sample of the Jig Hutch Product so that all particles were of a size to pass a 35-mesh screen. The ground sample was then deslimed, whereupon it was-thickened to a pulp of 70% solids. This pulp was conditioned in the mixer with 0.45 lb. per ton of caustic soda, 3. lbs. per ton of fuel oil, 1.3 lbs. per ton of fish acid; and

0.14. lb. per ton of a frothing agent consisting of three parts of crude rosin residue dissolved in one part of kerosene oil. Thereafter, the pulp was diluted and agitated in the flotation machine over a period of three minutes, during which a rougher concentrate of barite was collected. Upon removal of the nonfloated material (constituting the tailing), this concentrate was twice retreated in the machine without further addition of reagents, in each instance for a period of three minutes. The results of the test are shown in the following table, in which the non-floated products obtained by the two cleaning operations are indicated as middlings: a

. Percent essay Percent Product Percent recovery Wight BaS04 BaSO; FeaOa 8102 Feed 100 88. 62 Concentrate 74. 5 96. 70 0. 58 0. 39 81. 4 2nd middling 5. 3 87. 11 2. 88 7. 13 5. 2 lsthliddling- 0. 0' 76. 35 5. 24 15. 61 6. 1 Telling 8. 9 35. 52 3. B Slime 5. 3 79. 48 4. 7 Cone. +2 midds. 85. 8 94. 68 1. 05 1.87 91. 7

In each of the following four examples, acid other than sulphuric acid was employed.

EXAMPLE 4 Percent assay Percent Product Egg recovery BeS04 F820: s10, B880 Feed 100 75. 63 5. 49 14. 91 Floated 6. 7 6. 70 14. 70 9. 00 1. 2 Non-floated 93. 3 86. 00 4. 10 5. 91 98. 8

j EXAMPLE 5 The identical procedures of Example 4 were repeated on another sample of the same Tennessee ore, but with the conditioning additionally] carried out with 2 lbs. per ton of fuel oil, which was added last after the hydrochloric acid. As in that example, the bone oil was crude Texas Chemical Company bone oil and was employed in the same amount of 40 lbs. per ton, the hydrochloric acid being also employed in the same amount of 7.2 lbs. per ton. The results in. this instance were as follows:

Percent assay Percent Product 33? recovery BaSQi Feat); s10.

Feed 100 75.62 3.89 18. 15 Fioated 19.4 4.85 1244 71.30 1.2 Non-floated 80.6 92.66 1.84 3.91 98.8

Exunu: 6

Still another sample of the same Tennessee ore was processed with 8 lbs. per ton of crude Texas Chemical Company bone oil, 7.04 lbs. per

ton of phosphoric acid, and 2 lbs. per ton of fuel oil. The procedures were otherwise the same silicious constituents first with bone oil and Percent assay Percent Product Egg recovery Base. Fem. SiOz Baso Feed 100 75.44 5.10 15.39 Floated 17.3 5.83 14.00 74. 70 1.3 Non-floated 82.7 00.00 3.24 3.59 93.7

Examrnn 7 Here the reagents were-20 lbs. perto'n of crude Texas Chemical Company bone oil, 6 lbs. per ton of acetic acid, and 2 lbs. per ton of fuel oil. All other conditions were the same as before, the same Tennessee ore being employed. The results of the test were as follows:

' Percent assay Pement Product xggg: recovery Base. reioa Slot Baso The following example shows the applicability of the process of the invention to tabling.

A thick pulp of the same Tennessee ore as heretofore indicated was agitated in the mixer with 20 lbs. per ton of crude Texas Chemical Company bone oil, 5.9 lbs. per ton of concentrated sulphuric acid, and 2 lbs. per ton of fuel oil, the order in which these agents were added being that in which they appear.. About one minute was required for their addition, whereupon agitation was continued for two minutes more. The pulp was then fed to a laboratorysize Wilfley table over a period of one minute with the results indicated in the following table, wherein the tailing refers to the, material which came 011 the side of'the table and the concentrate refers to the material which came oil the discharge end: v

assay Percent Product :35; 7 recovery BaSOr Fem. SiO: B880 F6801-.. 100 75. 94 5. 35 15. 01 Tailing 34. 1 39. 10 12. 60 39. 86 17. 6 Concentrate 65. 9 94. 86 l. 60 2. 16 82. 4

and poorer in barite, and collecting the remaining material as the concentrate.

2. A process of concentration which comprises agitating a pulp of an ore containing barite and thereafter with an acid. capable of forming with water a distinctly acid solution readily titratable with an aqueous solution of a base, separating from the pulp a material richer in silicious con- T stituents and poorer in barite. and collecting the remaining material as the concentrate.

3. A process of concentration which comprises agitating a pulp of an ore containing barite and silicious constituents in the presence of bone oil, an acid capable of forming with water a distinctly acid solution readily titratable with an aqueous solution of a. base, and a mineral oil, separating from the pulp a material richer in silicious constituents and poorer in barite, and collecting the remaining material as the concentrate.

4. A process of concentration which comprises agitating a pulp of an ore containing barite and silicious constituents first with bone oil, thereafter with an acid capable of forming with water a distinctly acid solution readily titratable with an aqueous solution of a base, and thereafter with a mineral oil, separating from the pulp a material richer in silicious constituents and poorer in barite, and collecting the remaining material as the concentrate,

5. A process of concentration which comprises agitating a pulp of an ore containing .barite and silicious constituents in the presence of bone oil and sulphuric acid, separating from the pulp a material richer in silicious constituents and poorer in barite, and collectingv the remaining material .7 as the concentrate.

6. A process of concentration which comprises agitating a pulp of an ore containing barite and silicious constituents in the presence of bone oiland acetic acid, separating from the pulp a material richer in silicious constituents and poorer L in barite, and collecting the remaining material as the concentrate.

7. A process of concentration which comprises silicious constituents in, the presence of bone oil and phosphoric acid, separating from the pulp a material 'richer .in silicious constituents and poorer in barite, and collecting the remaining material as the concentrate.

8. A process of concentration which comprises agitating a pulp of an ore containing bariteand silicious constituents in the presence of bone oil and an acid capable of forming with water a distinctly acid solution readily titratable with an aqueous solution of a base. subjecting the pulp agitating a pulp of an ore containing barite and to a flotation treatment so as to remove a float richer in silicious constituentsand poorer in barite, and collecting the non-floated material as the concentrate.

9. A process of concentration which comprises agitating a pulp of an ore containing barite and silicious constituents in the "presence of bone oil and an acid capable of forming with water a distinctly acid solution readily titratable with an aqueous solution of a base, subjecting the pulp to a tabling operation causing a material richer in silicious constituents and poorer in barite to be ejected at the table side, and collecting the concentrate at the discharge end of the table.

10. A process of concentration which comprises agitating a pulp of an ore containing barite and silicious constituents in the presence of bone oil and sulphuric acid, subjecting the P to a flotation treatment so as to remove a float richer-in silicious constituents and poorer in barite, and collecting the non-floated material as the concentrate.

FRANCIS K. TARTARON. 

